The current Coat of Arms of Australia was adopted by George V, King of the United Kingdom, in 1912. The key elements are the Commonwealth Star and the shield, both symbolic of the country’s six states. The extra point on the Star of Federation represents the territories. Most notable are the red kangaroo and emu. They were partially chosen because they are endemic to the country. More important is that neither animal can walk backwards. The 1908 version of the escutcheon reinforced this with the words, “Advance Australia.” This rendition is displayed above the entrance to the Australian National Maritime Museum, a government operated facility.
